Admissions Requirements

Minimum requirements:

Applicants to the Clinical Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) Program must meet the following minimum requirements:

Undergraduate Degree: An undergraduate (BA or BS) degree in any subject from an accredited college or university is required to attend the PsyD Program at CNU. We do not require a degree in psychology.

Minimum GPA: We require an undergraduate GPA of no less than 3.0 or a graduate GPA of no less than 3.3.

Request for Academic Performance Exemption – Applicants who do not meet the minimum GPA requirement may submit a petition for exemption if they feel that extenuating circumstances have adversely impacted previous academic performance. Petitions should include a brief personal statement explaining the factors involved and the reasons why an exemption from the GPA requirement should be considered. Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit supplemental documentation demonstrating academic ability and previous intellectual/academic achievement. Examples include: GRE score, scholarly publications, other indicators of academic potential

Coursework: Applicants are required to have completed at least 3 units in each of the following courses (or equivalents) before beginning classes at CNU (applicants who have an undergraduate (BA or BS) or graduate degree in psychology are exempt from this requirement. Applicants with degrees in related fields (e.g. counseling) will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis).

Clinical, Volunteer, and/or Research Experience: While not required, preference is given to applicants with demonstrated interest in the field (e.g. volunteer work, community outreach, crisis line work, ABA experience, counseling, case management, research/lab assistant experience, etc.).

Graduate Records Exam (GRE): Submitting GRE scores is optional. The Admissions Committee does not use GRE scores in the selection process EXCEPT where they are submitted as part of a Request for Academic Performance Exemption. In such cases they are only used to help decide whether or not to waive the minimum GPA requirement. Applicants who elect to submit GRE scores as part of their general application should know it neither helps nor harms their application.

The CNU College of Psychology ETS institutional code is 4045.

Application Timeline

The application process will be opened on our website and through PSYCAS on September 1.

If students wish to be considered for early admittance, they must have their applications submitted by December 1.

After December 1 applications are accepted and evaluated on a rolling basis. Offers of admission are made until available spaces in the following year’s cohort are filled.

Admissions Interviews

Interviews begin in January. Applicants will be notified by email if they have been selected for invitation to attend an onsite interview. Skype interviews are available for applicants who are unable to travel. Applicants who have not been selected for an interview will be notified that their application is no longer being considered. Interviews will take place at the CNU College of Psychology campus in Elk Grove.

The admissions committee will use the interview to evaluate the candidate’s critical thinking, interpersonal skills, and level of commitment and motivation to the process of obtaining a doctorate degree.

Decisions

Admissions recommendations are made by the Admissions Committee. Final admissions decisions are made by the Assistant Dean of Student Affairs and Admissions. Only complete applications are considered. In some instances, applicants may be offered conditional acceptance pending successful completion of admissions requirements such as: completion of undergraduate degree or missing prerequisite coursework prior to the beginning of the fall semester; submission of official transcript(s) prior to fall semester in instances where offers of admission were based on review of unofficial transcript materials; or satisfactory WES transcript evaluation/English language proficiency score (or agreement to enroll in supplemental English language instruction).

Offers of admission, denial of admission, and notice of waitlist status will be sent by email on a rolling basis as applications are received and evaluated. Except by individual arrangement, a nonrefundable enrollment deposit of $200.00 is due 14 days following an offer of admission to reserve a place in the program. After that time, the offer may be made to another applicant.

Each application will be thoroughly reviewed by the admissions committee and all areas of the application will be carefully considered. It is important that the student body at the College of Psychology represents the best of future clinicians and the admissions committee will pay particular attention to professional, research, education, and life experiences. Along with academic excellence, the Admissions Committee will be looking for students with diverse cultural, socioeconomic, work, and educational backgrounds. We are a diverse faculty and student body and it is the admissions policy of the University and the College of Psychology that no applicant will be discriminated against on the basis of disability, gender, religion, military obligations, veteran status, marital status, race, creed, ethnicity, color, sex, gender expression, age, physical or mental ability, sexual orientation, national identity, or national origin.

The CNU College of Psychology reserves the right to withdraw an offer of admission if false statements are made on the application materials, academic performance of the applicant drops significantly or they fail to earn an undergraduate degree, or the applicant engages in behavior prior to matriculation that violates legal, professional, or ethical standards or otherwise raises concerns about the applicant’s judgement or integrity.

Transferring Credits from Other Institutions

The College of Psychology does not accept transfer credits, courses, or students.

International Applicants

The College of Psychology welcomes applications from international students.

International Coursework and English Proficiency Requirements

Applicants who have received university or graduate level education in English and maintained a satisfactory GPA are considered to have demonstrated English proficiency and are exempt from the English proficiency requirement.

Applicants who have not received university or graduate level instruction in English must demonstrate proficiency by obtaining a score above 80 on the TOEFL or a score of 6.5 or higher on the IELTS.

If transcripts are in a language other than English, they must be translated before review. A request for such services can be made through the PSYCAS system.

International Transcripts

International transcripts must be evaluated by World Education Services (WES) under the following conditions:

The institution awarded a degree that is being used as a prerequisite for the Psy.D. program

Credits for prerequisite coursework were obtained at the institution.

Applicants can request an evaluation through the PSYCAS system.

Student Enrollment Agreement

The Student Enrollment Agreement must be completed and submitted to the college in order to show intent to enroll in the program. The Student Enrollment Agreement is a legally binding contract when it is signed by the incoming student and accepted by the institution.

By signing the Enrollment Agreement, the student is acknowledging that the catalog, disclosures, and information located on the website have been made available to the student to read and review.

Before signing the Student Enrollment Agreement, the prospective student is strongly urged to visit the University and College website at www.cnsu.edu, and to read and review the CNU General Catalog, Student Rights and Responsibilities, and School Performance Fact Sheet (SPFS). The Catalog contains important information and policies regarding this institution. The Student Rights and Responsibilities contains important information about what is expected of students and due process procedures for conduct violations. The SPFS contains important performance data for the institution.

Student’s Right to Cancel, Withdraw, and Refund

You have the right to cancel the Student Enrollment Agreement until 12:01 AM on the first calendar day after the first classroom instruction session attended, or until 12:01 AM on the eighth calendar day after a student has signed the Enrollment Agreement, whichever is later.

Cancellation shall occur when you give written notice of cancellation to the University at the University’s address shown at the top of the first page of the Enrollment Agreement. You can do this by hand delivery, email, facsimile, or mail. Written notice of cancellation sent by hand delivery, email, or facsimile is effective upon receipt by the University. Written notice of cancellation sent by mail is effective when deposited in the mail properly addressed with postage prepaid.

After the cancellation period described above, you have the right to withdraw from the University at any time. Withdrawal shall occur when you give written notice of withdrawal to the Registrar at the University’s address shown at the top of the first page of the Enrollment Agreement.